Improvement in stuffing leather



I by a peg-lined cylinder, or other equiva- UNITED STATES JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, OF WOBURN CENTRE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STUFFING LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 5 6,573, dated February 10, 1857.

To allluhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH ARMSTRONG, of Woburn Centre, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Process of Ourrying Leather; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described in the following specification.

By the ordinary process of stuffing a skin with tallow, oil, or grease, such oil is usually applied to the skin while in a wet or moist state, the skin being subsequently stretched and suspended or fastened to a suitable rack, fence, or surface, in order that it may be exposed to the atmosphere and rays of the sun and have its moisture expelled by evaporation, the grease, by thexvarmth of the sun or other means, being caused in the meantime to penetrate the hide. The hides, also, while in a wet state, have been impregnated with grease by subjecting them to the action of a fulling-mill, in which case, by the percussive operations of the blows of the heaters, the moisture, water, or surplus tan-liquor has been driven out of the hide, while at the same time the oil or grease was forced into it. The wet hides have also been placed within and subjected to the action of a rotary peglined cylinder while in revolution. All these processes involve desiccation of the skin or hide, either during orafter the application of the oil or grease to it, and consequently such modes involve a considerableexpenditure of time and labor in drying and handling the hides.

By my improved process I take the hides from the tan-vat, and while they are in a wet state I put them into a powerful press, like a cotton or cider press, and subject them to pressure to such extent as will thoroughly or sufficiently expel the moisture or liquor contained in them. Next, I take the hides so treated and apply the grease or oil to them lent means productive of like effects. By the use of the peg-lined cylinder containing the hides and put in revolution on its axis, as is well understood by curriers, the hides are worked over and plumped up and made to receive the grease to good advantage. \Vhen the hides are subjected to the heavy pressure necessary to free them from the moisture or liquor, their fibers become more or less compacted together, and consequently, in order that the hides may receive grease to advantage, it becomes necessary or desirable to subject them to the action of a contrivance or machine which, while it shall apply grease to them, shall so agitate them as to plump and soften them more or less, or restore them to a proper state to receive the grease.

By my improved process a great amount of labor or handling or working of the hides, as well as time usually required in drying them, is saved, and thus my process is rendered an economical one, comparatively speaking. v

I do not claim the usual process of stuffing a wet hide or skin, in which process the moisture or water in the hide has to be removed by evaporation after the tallow or grease has been rubbed into the hide; nor do I claim,

stuffing wet hides by a fulling-mill, wherein, by the percussive force of the heaters thereof, the water or tan-liquor is more or less forced out of the hides and the grease simultaneously driven into them, as in this case desiccation of the hides by subsequent exposure to the atmosphere is necessary; nor do I claim, irrespective of my specific application of it, the use of a press to expel'a liquid from an arti clcor substance; nor do I claim the mere use of a peg-lined cylinder for the purpose of impregnating hides with grease; but as I have made an improvement in the process of currying, by which I not only dispense with desiccation of the hides by evaporation induced by exposure of them to the atmosphere during the application of oil or grease to them, but also the handling and working or labor incident thereto, and perform the operation of expelling the water or tan-liquor from them in much less time, comparatively speaking,

Vhat, therefore, I claim is as follows, viz: My improvement in the currying process, the same consisting in employing a press, as stated, previous to and in connection with the application of the oil or grease by a peglined cylinder or other equivalent means, as set 

